It’s been over 4 years since I made the commitment to join The Compact and stop buying new stuff. At the time, it was a one-year commitment. But after that first year, it became a lifestyle that I stuck with, rather than just an experiment or a challenge. I had absolutely no desire to go to […]

These handy-dandy little bags are a great way to cut down on plastic waste. I found out about them from Kate at An Exercise in Frugality, and I immediately ordered these four bags and have been using them ever since. They’re great for brown-bag lunches, hiking, and just throwing a snack in your purse. If […]

My Buy Nothing New year officially ended five days ago, but as I said, since doing The Compact has been so rewarding and relatively easy, I’ve decided to continue as a Compacter into 2010, and indefinitely. This blog will document my experiment with making it a feasible permanent lifestyle. In addition to what I’ve already […]

I say jumped, and not fell or toppled, because I did it on purpose. It was something I planned and carried out. I bought three new books at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books! And I’m so glad I did. The Festival of Books is one of my favorite L.A. events. Part of it […]

Friends keep asking me how my experiment with buying nothing new is going, and I have to admit that it’s not that hard. Really. I’m not having Forever 21 withdrawals or drunk dialing Williams Sonoma or anything. For one thing, I don’t really go to malls for recreation or even like to go to them […]

Okay- it’s been almost a month since I started this experiment. For now, these are my exceptions to the rule “buy nothing new”: 1. underwear, bras, and socks2. hygiene products- deodorant, toothpaste, etc.- plus lotions and prescription drugs3. expendables- light bulbs, car tires, replacements for air purifier, etc.4. slippers5. athletic shoes6. food, of course I […]